Monday night, we showed you what doctors must do, immediately following a traumatic brain injury, to provide the best chances for recovery.

Tonight, in part 2 of our special assignment, TBI: The Silent Epidemic, we introduce you to people, right here in the Central Valley, who are continuing to recover, even years after their brain injury.

What upsets families the most, is when they're told by doctors that their loved one won't recover from a traumatic brain injury.

That after 6 months, a year, 2 years, that's the best they're going to see.

Well that's just not the case.

Recovery continues for a lifetime.

Just ask the dozens and dozens of people who continue to recover from a traumatic brain injury right here in the Central Valley.

Even those who were told, they'd never have a chance.

Michael Taylor, Living With a traumatic brain injury: "That was my car. April 8th, 1989."

It's been nearly 20 years since the night of Michael Taylor’s car accident.

At the time, Taylor was a sergeant with the Madera County Sheriff's Department and a swat team leader.

Taylor: "I used to be real macho, no body could harm me. I was a big bad person."

But after that night, Taylor realized, he wasn't untouchable.

While racing to a call of a burglary in progress, the unexpected happened.

Taylor: "When I came off the freeway, I saw the road was clear, so I punched it. When I punched it, my car died, so I put it in neutral, tried to restart it, then drifted down Avenue 12 and that's when the bronco towing the boat him me."

For 10 days, Taylor remained in a coma.

His family told by doctors, he wouldn't survive, and if he did, he would never walk or talk again.

He had suffered a severe traumatic brain injury.

After months of intense rehab, Taylor managed to return to the force.

But because of after effect from his TBI, Taylor was stripped of his regular duties.

Taylore: "All I did was shuffle paper work, until the state determined I was 100% disabled and that's when they retired me."

Taylor says, living with a TBI over past 19 years has been a daily struggle.

His ears constantly ring, he suffers from double vision, has trouble walking and his short term memory has been completely wiped out.

Now he's forced to write everything down.

But Taylor says what's worse, is how he's been treated by those he was closest to.

Taylor: "There are relatives and friends who just forget about you, because you're not the same person you were prior to the accident, and that's very unfortunate."

But Taylor is not alone, and he knows it.

That's why he attends this brain injury support group run by Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno.

It’s where people affected by TBI come for hope.

Something many say, they nearly lost.

Joanne White, son suffered brain injury: "The doctors only see the patients for about six months after the injury. So as far as they're concerned, that's all there is. There is no better. They don't see them anymore. I would say come to a group, see what happens afterwards."

At the group, people also share how their lives have been and continue to be impacted by TBI.

Like Debbie fields and her son David, who six years ago, was involved in a terrible car accident.

He was a varsity football player at Clovis West High School when it happened.

Debbie Fields, son suffered brain injury: "Basically he died the day of the accident and he had to learn how to breathe, swallow, eat, talk, walk."

David's mom says it been a long, hard road for her entire family, one that's caused a strain on her marriage.

Just recently she came home from work and found her husband had moved out.

Fields: "It has really affected David, even though he has no short term memory, he has remembered that his dad has left and it's thrown him into a deep depression."

Now her greatest concern is that David is living in fear, afraid she too will walk away.

With just a few simple words, David credits his mom for never giving up on him, as he continues to recover.

David Fields: "I love you mom. I just have a funny way of showing it. I love you."

Jeff DiMarco, hosts brain injury support group: "Over a long period of time, in a real struggle, these people are taking care of themselves again, getting driver's licenses back and driving, going to work, getting advanced degrees in college."

Lori Golden obtained her bachelor's degree, nearly 30 years after she injured her brain.

Today she continues to go to college, while looking for a full time job.

She says the key to recovery is a strong, positive attitude.

Lori Golden, living with a traumatic brain injury: "It doesn't happen overnight, but it takes time for a brain injury to get better, but it will happen."

David Cobberley, living with a traumatic brain injury: "It's a process that's never ending and I still have some deficits and I’m trying to improve them all the time."

A room full of people helping people, who continue to recover from TBI: The Silent Epidemic.

Dr. John Edwards, Director of Rehabilitation, CRMC: "Because you are literally a walking wounded... You look normal, but you don't function normally."

Taylor: "Don't give up. I mean any advance is forward, even if you have to take a couple steps back. There's always going forward. And as long as you have a positive attitude, you're gonna make it with no problem."

If you or a loved has a brain injury, whether it’s mild, moderate or severe, we have some helpful resources listed under news links.

Also, if you're interested in attending the brain injury support group you saw in the story, you can call Jeff DiMarco from Community Regional Medical Center at 559-779-6919.

For Preston Phillips’ full story, click on the video link above.